Quetzal

What is Quetzal? Anchoring College Street just east of Bathurst in Little Italy, Quetzal is executive chef Steven Molnar’s Michelin-starred celebration of regional Mexican cooking driven entirely by wood fire. The sleek, elongated dining room is framed by an undulating white ceiling, moody lighting, and teal banquettes running parallel to a roaring 28-foot open-hearth grill. Front cocktail bar stools and counter perches offer prime ringside views of the blistering embers and the kitchen team in constant motion.

Quetzal Menu & What to Order Everything here touches smoke, anchored by heirloom corn that is nixtamalized, ground, and pressed in-house every single service. Start with the dry-aged amberjack aguachile and rich chanterelle-topped memela before committing to heavier hearth-roasted centerpieces like the whole seabream or the indulgent bone marrow with wild Argentinian shrimp. Pair your spread with a smoky mezcal cocktail like The Green Heather or opt for the family-style curated tasting menu to let the kitchen pace the meal.

Know Before You Go Reservations release on OpenTable 30 days in advance at midnight and disappear rapidly for prime Friday and Saturday slots. A handful of bar-height seats are held for walk-ins right when doors open at 6:00 p.m., making early mid-week drops your best bet without a booking. The restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday for dinner only, easily accessed via the 506 Carlton streetcar or the 511 Bathurst line.