Executive chef David Lee pulls out all the stops at his chic entertainment district resto, where Canadian-cuisine-inspired mealtimes are lively affairs and the Queen West location can’t help but encourage a hip and buzzy atmosphere. Impeccable service and an efficiently run kitchen make the experience here uncluttered (good news for folks who have to rush off to a Four Seasons show after dinner), and all about the food. Nota Bene has a seasonal menu that features something for everyone. Among the so-called “signature dishes,” find hamachi ceviche, crisp duck salad and a wildly fêted Jennifer’s stilton beef brisket burger (ranked fourth on Toronto Life’s 25 best burgers list). Bypass the sticky toffee pudding dessert at your own peril.