Luna Junction — Restaurant in Toronto

Like all the best stories, this one begins with an octopus.

While scouting for our next great dining adventure, my wife stumbled across Luna quite by accident. Drawn in by the stunning website imagery and the tantalizing Mediterranean fare, our fate was ultimately sealed by the sighting of a particular dish: Polvo a Lagareiro — grilled Portuguese octopus with black-eyed peas, sautéed greens, and garlic herb pesto. With my wife’s birthday celebration imminent, we had no choice but to give Luna a try and we were so glad we did! From the cosy, intimate atmosphere, to the friendly and efficient serving staff (thanks Cait!) to the warm and approachable owner, Tom, and his chef-wife Bernie, it was the perfect storm of dining pleasures.

My wife did, indeed, have the Polvo a Lagareiro and I was allowed a taste; tender and well-seasoned, it did not disappoint! But don’t feel too sad for me as I had chosen a winner of a dish for myself: Bitoque — a 10 oz striploin topped with crispy prosciutto and a fried egg, served with a green salad. (For a small additional fee, I opted for the crispy potatoes instead of the sweet potato chips, but I don’t think I could have gone wrong either way.) My steak was cooked to perfection — medium rare, toward rare, just the way I ordered it — and was well-seasoned in the best of ways. The prosciutto added a wonderful texture while the fried egg (a common Portuguese addition, I’m given to understand) lent the dish a certain indulgent richness.

We had skipped the appetizer to ensure we had room for dessert (we can rarely work in three courses) and were not disappointed. My wife had the Lemon Cheesecake while I had the Chocolate Torte. Both offered the perfect amount of decadence on which to end our meal — sated without being stuffed.

And as we watched as patrons filled in the seats around us and quietly settled into Luna’s abundant comforts, it suddenly became clear that this hidden gem had only been hidden from us, as the rest of the world seemed to be in on its secrets. But it’s a secret no more and we will definitely be returning to sample more of Luna’s treasures.

Thanks so much to Tom, Bernie, Cait, and the wonderful kitchen and support staff for a...

This evening my wife and I visited this restaurant and all was lovely until the very final moments. I am a White woman and my wife is an Asian woman —this matters for the next part of the story.

All evening we were being served by a lovely waiter and she was truly wonderful. Equally the food was quite tasty. Then it came time to pay the bill. Our waiter was otherwise engaged so my wife and I looked around to signal for the bill. The white presenting male owner, who I presume to be based on how he acted in the restaurant, was sat eating dinner and having a drink at the bar but noticed us looking about. He approached our table and asked me if I needed anything. It’s important to note he only addressed me and not once addressed or even looked at my wife. I requested the bill.

Immediately my wife and I found it odd but gave him the benefit of the doubt. When he returned he once again only addressed me and even spent time explaining something on the bill only to me. Not even a glance in my wife’s direction. He walked away but both of us were now hyper aware of his behaviour. My wife was the one paying this evening and pulled out her card. She awaited his return and once again he tried to hand me the machine though the check and her card were very obviously placed in front of her. I signalled that she’d be paying and only then did he shift the machine towards her but still largely avoided addressing her. She attempted to pay with AmEx (note they don’t accept AmEx) but it wouldn’t go through so she asked if they accepted it. He replied no still while avoiding her gaze. She proceeded to pay via Visa and we left after giving the waiter a separate tip and explaining the situation briefly. Oh and upon paying the bill he proceeded to say thank you again directed towards me and not my wife who had just paid.

It was one of the most blatant displays of racist micro aggressions I’ve witnessed in Toronto! We will never return. An initial lovely evening absolutely ruined in the final moments....

Petisco Sampler was a lovely take on a charcuterie board, with spicy grilled Chourico, and fresh goat cheese reminiscent of ricotta. Lupini beans and olives made for fun breaks in between confessions; definitely a sharing appetizer. Oh, and you get half off a drink if you order an app! ($9 for two Lugtreads? Yes!) The Luna Spritz was a nice take on an Aperol, but with a refreshing grapefruit, summer feel.

The Beer Steamed Mussels were spicy, but not hot, yet had a relaxing, savory flavor. Some might need extra bread and water, as it's pretty much a soup dish. I got an extra helping of spice since both dishes so far had Chourico sausage. That char on the sausage made a nice, bitter contrast.

Oh, and the star of the show was the Whole European Seabass. Not sure if they get their fish from Honest Weight down the street, but this was the best fish I ever tasted; my uncle ordered, and declared within seconds I had to try it. Imagine biting into a fresh, ripe tomato, followed by a savory, moist, meaty clean texture. And that's just the skin. Any lover of seafood needs to experience the WES if you ever come to Toronto. It's that memorable.

It was summertime, so everyone sat in the back patio. The food was so good, the flies and neighborly kids didn't distract at all. That kitchen is small, but they do some magic in there. Owner was a cool, friendly guy who loves people. Service was perfect.

If you're in for something spicy and relaxing,...